Hamilton clocks in 10th on Forbes 'Highest-Paid Athletes of the Decade' list

Lewis Hamilton has been F1's top-earner for many years, but the six-time world champion only clocks in 10th on Forbes' 'Highest-Paid Athletes of the Decade' list.

Hamilton's decision to leave McLaren and join Mercedes at the end of 2012 was seen by many at the time as a high-risk move.

But it turned out to be a masterstroke for the Briton who was rewarded with five world titles and massive financial gratification.

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However, when it came to the mega bucks earned by the world's top athletes in the past ten years, Hamilton was but a distant 10th, with earnings totaling $400 million since 2010.

Forbes puts Hamilton's current Mercedes retainer at 40 million pounds - or about $51.84 million but labels the 84-time Grand Prix winner as "the most marketable athlete in the world".

While racing in F1 is a full-time job, boxing involves just a handful of appearances for its top stars, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. The latter topped Forbes' list with Mayweather raking in a staggering $915 million since 2010!

Behind sport's number one earner, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was second on the list with a hefty $800 million while Barcelona football star Lionel Messi was third on the podium with a healthy $750 million?

Trailing the trio are basketball player and LA Lakers star LeBron James ($680 million), tennis superstar Roger Federer (6$640 million), golfers Tiger Woods ($615 million) and Phil Mickelson ($480 million), Manny Pacquiao ($435 million), the NBA Brooklyn Net's Kevin Durant ($425 million) and Hamilton ($400 million).

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